Panchakarma
| March 8, 2010 | Posted by monica under Ayurveda, Ayurvedic Therapies |
Panchakarma – Ayurvedic Five Step Detox
By Monica Groover, PHD, CMT
Although still in a nascent stage, Ayurveda Panchakarma Detoxification Therapies are gaining relevance, recognition, and popularity all over the world. Although a panchakarma detox therapy can only be done properly under a supervision of an Ayurvedic Practitioner, some pre panchakarma preparation for your detox can be started at home, before you check into your local Ayurveda center!
This article provides information about how to do a pre panchakarma preparation, or Purva karma. However, before we begin, you should know what Panchakarma is.
What is Panchakarma?
Panchakarma literally means ‘Five Karmas’ or FIVE THERAPIES. These therapies eliminate Ama or toxins from the body. These therapies are
Vamana
Virechana,
Nasya,
Basti
Raktamokshana.
Originating thousands of years ago in India, Panchakarma is both a healing and preventive process. Panchakarma is an excellent way to PREVENT disease because by following the five fold practices recommended in Caraka Samhita, or Astanga Vagbhatta, the ancient treatise for Ayurveda, people can detoxify their system, strengthen their immunity and lymphatic system, remove impurities and and balance their bodily imbalance, mind and body.
Panchakarma is also healing since it complements modern medicine, especially people recovering from illness, no longer on medication who are gaining their strength back. Overuse of medication, surgeries or illness can take a toll on the human body. This practice eliminates years of Ama or toxins build up and helps the body rebuild its natural defences.
Panchakarma is based on the fact that undigested food in our system ferments and becomes Ama. This leads to disease. Also, allergens from environment, affect of seasons on our body, overuse of drugs – all create an imbalance of our body constitution (doshas!). Dosha imbalance equals disease.
Panchakarma helps cleanse these foreign bodies and and restores the body’s natural defences.
Purvakarma prepares the body for detoxification and is done before Pradhan Karma or main procedures. After determining the Dosha or the Body Constitution, Vikruti or Imbalance is determined. A personalized detoxification plan is then prepared. Purvakarmauses medicated ghee or clarified butter mixed with healing herbs for lubricating the body externally as well as internally.
Two spoonfuls of Ghee are orally administered on the first day along with nothing else. Ghee enters the dhatu (body tissues) and strotasa (body passages). This ultimately helps in driving impurities out of the body during panch-karma. Snehan mobilizes toxins in the body. Elimination of ama (toxins) becomes easy if Purvakarma is carried out properly, which can otherwise be a difficult task. Ghee (ghrut) prepared from cow milk is the best according to Ayurvedic scholars.
External Massage with Ayurvedic Herbal Ghee
Oleation or Medicated Oil MassageThis comprises all kinds of partial and total body massage done with the help of sneha in a guided manner. Sidhdha ghrut or sidhdha taila is applied to the skin. Our skin, being a semi permeable membrane, accepts some amount of sneha. A chartered program of body massage for 1, 3, 7 or more days as needed, is executed to achieve the desired level of snehan. Lustrous skin is a marker of external snehan. This type of snehan is beneficial for skin problems, for body wasting, for prolonged bed ridden conditions, etc.
Sweat Therapy (Swedanam)
This is generally executed after snehan. Swedan means dry or wet fomentation or heat therapy. Different types of fomentations are possible. These include taking a sunbath, sitting in a specially prepared wooden sweat box, pouring warm water on the body, sitting in a bath tub or taking a steam bath. Variations like swedan for the whole body (below the neck), for the diseased part of the body (e.g. only extremities), sitz’s bath (for perineal region) can be used according to the need of the patient. Many kinds of warm solids like cloth, sand bags, heat pads and liquids like warm water, water with milk, herbal decoctions and medicated oil can be used for fomentation. Here too, the decision of the Ayurvedic therapist is essential.
To summarize, oiling the body and ’sweat’ procedures are Purvakarma (pre-procedures) which help in liquefying the accumulated ama (toxins), in cooling the irritated dosha (basic body elements), in opening the blocked strotasa (body channels) and in lubricating the passages of mala (waste products)
Panchakarma Diet
Panchakarma is ineffective if special detoxification diet is not given along with the treatments.
Vamana
Vamana is a medicated emesis therapy which removes Kapha toxins collected in the body and the respiratory tract. This is given to people with high Kapha imbalance. Daily treatment involves loosening and mobilizing the toxins in an effort to finally eliminate them.
Benefits of Vamana: Bronchial Asthma, Chronic Allergies, Hay Fever, Vitiligo, Psoriasis, Hyperacidity, Chronic Indigestion Nasal Congestion, Edema, Obesity, Psychological disorders, Skin disorders.
Virechana (Purgation)
Virechana is medicated purgation therapy which removes Pitta toxins from the body that are accumulated in the liver and gallbladder, it completely cleanses the gastro-intestinal tract. It is a safe procedure without side effects. Benefits of Virechana help root out Chronic Fever, Diabetes, Asthma, Skin disorders such as Herpes, Paraplegia, Hemiplegia Joint disorders, Digestive disorders, Constipation, Hyperacidity, Vitiligo, Psoriasis, Headaches, Elephantiasis and Gynecological disorders.
Basti (Enema or Colonic Irrigation)
Basti (Enema) is considered as the mother of all Panchakarma treatments since it cleanses the accumulated toxins from all the 3 doshas, Vata, Pitta and Kapha, through the colon. Basti is also highly beneficial as a rejuvenating treatment. Medicated oil or ghee and an herbal decoction is given as enema to clean the colon and increase the muscle tone. This procedure is usually applied for 8 to 30 days, based on the medical condition of a person. Benefits Hemiplegia, Paraplegia, Colitis, Convalescence, Cervical Spondylosis, Irritable Bowel Syndrome Constipation, Digestive disorders, Backache & Sciatica, Hepatomegaly & Splenomegaly, Obesity, Piles, Sexual Debility & Infertility.
Nasya (Nose Cleaning)
Nasya involves administration of medicated oil through the nose to cleanse accumulated Kapha toxins from the head and neck region. Based on the medical condition of a person, it can be given up to 30 days. Nasya benefits include Trigeminal Neuralgia, Bel’s Palsy, Improves memory & eye sight, Insomnia, Elimination of excess Mucus Hyper pigmentation in the face, Pre-mature graying of hair, clarity to voice, Headaches of various origin Hemiplegia, Loss of smell and taste, Frozen shoulder, Migraine, Stiffness of the neck, Nasal Allergies Nasal Polyp, Neurological dysfunctions, Paraplegiar, Sinusitis.
Raktamochana
Raktamokshana is procedure to cleanse the blood and is advised only in very rare conditions. It is not advisable during general Panchakarma. Most Ayurveda Centers including ours do not offer Raktamokshana due to the high risk of infection involved in blood cleansing.
Monica is a faculty member at the San Diego College of Ayurveda. Please send feedback to news@ayurvedayogatraining.com
Check out our Panchakarma Spa Packages.
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If you have not yet tried Panchakarma I highly recommend it! It is well worth every penny. It brings you a state of rejuvenation and wellness. You feel like you adopt a new body! If you want to start slow you can begin with one of the ayurvedic treatments like abhyanga. Remember: You have nothing to lose by trying these treatments! Please visit http://ayurvedayogatraining.com
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The method takes concerning 3 to seven day for dependency on alcohol that is psychological instead of physical or chemical. So as to stop withdrawal symptoms medications are given to the patient. The most commonly used medication for detoxification is chordiazepoxide. Throughout the primary day of the treatment high doses of medication is given for you to prevent drinking alcohol. When several days it’s reduced to lesser dose. You need to agree no to drink when underneath the treatment. Even if you are doing that there is a tool that the physician can detect it. The support of your family and friends will be a nice facilitate when looking a detoxification program.
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